Football Player Arrested for Barking at Fla. Police Dog

July 23, 2013
Florida Linebacker Antonio Morrison was arrested Sunday for barking at a police dog in Gainesville.

Florida Linebacker Antonio Morrison is in the doghouse.

And no wonder.

Sunday, Gators head coach Will Muschamp said Morrison will be suspended for "at least" two games after being arrested for barking at a police dog in Gainesville, Fla.

It was Morrison's second arrest in a little over a month. In June, he was charged with allegedly punching a bouncer because he did not get a discount on a cover charge to a nightclub.

Early Sunday, Gainesville police officers were responding to a disturbance outside an after-hours club when Morrison, a bystander, allegedly walked up to a police cruiser and barked at a police dog that was inside.

The dog, named Bear, barked back. According to a police report, officers asked Morrison to wait in front of a patrol car. Police said Morrison resisted when they attempted to handcuff him for interfering with a police canine.

The 19-year-old sophomore appeared before a judge at 4:15 a.m. yesterday and was charged with resisting arrest without violence and harassing an on-duty animal. Both are second-degree misdemeanors and Morrison was released on his own recognizance.

The dog could not be reached for comment.

"I'm extremely disappointed in Antonio Morrison's decision-making," Muschamp said in a statement yesterday. "He has been suspended from the team and will miss at least two games to begin the season."

Morrison is expected to be the starting middle linebacker this season.

If an effort to defend his actions, Morrison told police that the dog made a "woof-woof" sound at him and he was merely barking back.

We're not legal experts, but Morrison might want to change his story.

Last we checked, dogs can't pronounce the letter "W."

Copyright 2013 - Philadelphia Daily News

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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